A time for loyalty?

One can fault Linda Chavez for not being more forthcoming with Fred Fielding, the Bush Team's vetter ("Opening day defeat," Jan. 20). Mr. Bush is well-known for demanding loyalty from subordinates; at what point, though, should someone on his team expect loyalty from him? How much better if the man who is the political face of compassionate conservatism had looked at the facts and then judged that Ms. Chavez's omission had been outweighed by the act of compassion itself? Maybe he did the right thing by not sending signals of support, leading her to withdraw. Conservatives will learn how to interpret the Chavez incident by how he and his team fight for John Ashcroft. You have to choose your battles, but eventually you have to choose one and fight. - Bill Marsh, Charlotte, N.C.

Hypocrites

The Democrats' successful opposition to Linda Chavez as labor secretary once again points out their incredible hypocrisy. While it is not important to Democrats that the President of the United States commits perjury or obstructs justice, we don't dare have a labor secretary who gave a down-and-out alien some money. For them the only real crime is not bowing to their god of the liberal agenda. - Dale L. Garrett, Hampton, Va.

Lawful to do good

While reading Marvin Olasky's "Gimme shelter" (Jan. 20), I couldn't help but think of when the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" Jesus replied that "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath," and so he too practiced compassion and was criticized unjustly. - Wanda Jarchow, Luverne, Minn.

Hit the network ...

I am appalled by Comedy Central's latest idea of entertainment. The children of presidents have historically been off-limits and George W. Bush's daughters are two fine young women who do not, in any way, deserve this abomination. - Karla Hamrick, Wapakoneta, Ohio

Out of line

Your Jan. 20 cover shows as much disrespect for the office of the president as Bill Clinton ever did. "Bye-bye, Bill" was out of line. - Tim Washam, Somerset, Ky.

Culture-war casualty

I regret to inform you that I will not be renewing my subscription at this time. I will renew in one to three years. Your articles are good and some are extraordinary. The problem is that the news is depressing and the liberals have won the culture war. I need time to retreat and concentrate on eternal things. - David J. Salmon, Sparta, N.J.

Dream on

For years I subscribed to one of the Big Three newsmagazines that showed an occasional conservative bent and mistakenly shunned WORLD, thinking its coverage wasn't broad enough. Then an obscene, and unfortunately noncontroversial, advertisement forced me to change. I've never looked back, and have always assumed that WORLD would make three into four, as Mr. Olasky aspires ("Impossible dream?" Jan. 13). Please, at least for the sake of the singers in the choir, never give up the dream. - Annette Marquardt, Talihina, Okla.

On the ball

Bravo to Andree Seu for her insightful thoughts on spin. The liberal, media major-leaguers may not appreciate her views, but she puts just enough on the ball (point pen, that is) to hit the reader between the eyes. - Lisa Mackey, Frankfort, Ky.

Stop now

I find your publication to be much more Republican than it is Christian. Please stop my subscription immediately. - Katherine Yost, Fair Haven, N.J.

Another member

After reading your article on pastors who have served our Lord for 50 years or more in the same church, I feel compelled to add the name of our pastor, Dr. Arthur F. Robbins, who will begin his 53rd year at Otay Baptist Church ("The Half-Century Club," Dec. 23). We are located four miles north of the Mexican border and about six miles east of the Pacific Ocean. - James B. Miller, Chula Vista, Calif.

In the best interest

I have no doubt that Linda Chavez is a woman of integrity and compassion. What a bind she was in regarding the help she gave to Marta Mercado. However, she knew Ms. Mercado was an illegal alien, and the laws regarding this are not only in our best interest but also in the best interest of the illegal person. I can't blame them for wanting the security of this country or Ms. Chavez for wanting to help a person in need. However, if we turn our backs to this problem it will only increase the risks they take and possibly hinder those who are attempting to enter our country legally. It is sad to lose a person of Ms. Chavez's character, but she was right in saying, as a prospective cabinet member, "I gave them ammunition." - Pat Shicks, Sioux Center, Iowa

A liability

I take issue with you over your apparent fawning over Linda Chavez. She broke the law and Mr. Bush was right not to fight for her. Her lawlessness became a liability, and to step into her corner would be to lose credibility in our war cry for the restoration of the rule of law in this country. - Thomas Everett, Hubbardston, Maine

How dare they

The news contained in "Trashing the First Family" (Jan.20) was repulsive. Thank you for printing it. How dare Messrs. Parker and Stone even consider dragging the Bush family through the mud in such a fashion. - Jennie Radosevich, Kalispell, Mont.

... and the sponsors

I was astonished and outraged at what Comedy Central was going to air. I have sent an e-mail to Comedy Central stating that if they air this program, my family and I will not only boycott their network (we do that anyway) but we will find out who is advertising during the airing of this program and boycott those companies as well. - Mike Goddard, St. Louis, Mo.

Say hello

When I pulled the Jan. 20 WORLD out of my mailbox, a big smile came across my face as I read the words, "Bye-bye, Bill." This was the first election in which I voted, I am proud to say for George W. Bush, and for the first time I feel very positive about the political future of America. Because of Mr. Clinton, many teens such as I became active in the political process. We can now wave bye-bye to Bill Clinton and say hello to a president we can respect and, most of all, trust. - Beckie Gruen, Lindenhurst, Ill.

Soured

I was saddened and my stomach grew sour as I read about many of the last-minute orders that Mr. Clinton signed ("Start the presses," Jan. 20). I cannot truly say one positive thing about Mr. Clinton or this era just past. - Karen Griffin, Yucaipa, Calif.

New bounce

A moment before reading "Impossible dream?" I had read the first few verses of Hebrews 11 about "the substance of things not seen, the certainty of things hoped for." Mr. Olasky's dream for WORLD, while something less grand than our Certain Hope, is clearly born of it. His faith in God's ability to make his dream a reality, if God so chooses, is of the same stuff as that which convinces us the universe was created ex nihilo (v. 2). There has been new bounce to my step this day because of Mr. Olasky's example of faith. - Kevin Kaufman, West Lafayette, Ind.

Just a lie

Andree Seu's "Original spin" (Jan. 13) was compelling, but I disagree with her definition of spin. I believe that spin, in this context, always carries with it an intent to deceive or mislead, not just "interpreting to one's advantage." I consider spin a euphemism for lie, and therefore have to say that Jesus never did this in the passages she cites, or at all. For example, if anyone was spinning in John 4:15-16, it was the Samaritan woman when she told Jesus, "I have no husband." - Tim Friedrich, Sterling, Ill.

Wishful

I had heard of C. S. Lewis for many years, but it was not until I was 70 years old that I read The Chronicles of Narnia while my wife and I were on a four-week trip with our grandchildren. How I wished then and wish now that I had read that series many years earlier. Let the carpers do their carping elsewhere ("The lion still roars," Dec. 23). - Richard H. Engelmann, Cincinnati, Ohio

Correction

The United States Postal Service has contracted airlines to carry airmail since 1927 (Jan. 20, p. 12). - The Editors